Today is Day One of my new blog. Welcome to my mind – let me share my heart…

Who am I?

I’m a 40-something wife of an Asst. Chief in the California Highway Patrol. I have four children: two young adults, a teenager, and a pre-teen, all living at home. I learn a lot from these five people who I share my life with. They are real, growing and changing persons, and at times this is hilarious. They are my family, my home.

I wrote “A CHiP on my Shoulder – How to Love Your Cop with Attitude,” a book specifically for law enforcement spouses. It’s my first book; won’t be my last. Rumor has it that cops all over the country are reading it too, but don’t tell them I told you, okay? I also mentor, speak, and comfort all ages of women who I come into contact with.

Some people say I look like Meg Ryan, but that was before she had plastic surgery and I gained 20 pounds. Okay, thirty. But I still hold onto that image of her in the yellow dress in Top Gun, comforting a tearful Tom Cruise in his naval uniform, offering altruistic comfort in the midst of her own pain. That’s the image I hold onto in my mind, even if the mirror doesn’t agree.

Why the blog?

I love uniforms. Police officers. Firefighters. Military. I love what they do, and how they do it. I love that they get it – that other people matter, and that some things are worth putting your life on the line to protect. And I have a passion to support them by supporting those who support them. Did you get that? Uniforms put themselves on the line, but there are those at home who love them, and have to make their own sacrifices. It’s never easy, and takes courage and tenacity to make a good marriage, a good home.

My early years with my cop on the street and babes in arms were lonely. I didn’t have many girlfriends who were married to cops. Los Angeles covers many traffic-jammed miles – we cop wives were spread apart, and others were breaking apart before our eyes. I love that we are joining together through education, shared experiences, police wives groups, and internet. We need each other!

So, what will I write about?

Being a cop wife. Being a mom. Being a whole woman. My observations and experiences with cop families. Lessons learned from little pieces of my life. Occasionally, I will share some God moments, as I am a woman of faith. Basically, anything and everything that can bring hope, help and sometimes humor to this life we live as LEOWs (law enforcement officer wives). Our spouses have backup on the street, we are their backup at home, but we, too, need support. We need backup for our homes. I hope my book, blog, and beyond will be beneficial (BTW, I like to play with words). At any rate, I got your back!